Norfolk & Wrentham November 2020

November 2020 Norfolk & Wrentham Local Town Pages www.localtownpages.com Page 11
Guest Column
The Art of the Cull
By G. Gregory Tooker
In recent years, we have witnessed
many examples of poor
job placement and the disappointing
results such decisions
produce, especially in the public
sector. Two glaring cases in point
exist in youth services and law
enforcement. Your writer offers
some insights and possible solutions
based upon personal experience.
The Boys Scouts of America
has been a very popular organization,
helping to shape the lives
of many political leaders, scientists,
artists and authors, among
others. Scouting has helped give
direction to millions of young
men, equipping them with practical
knowledge and experience
that will serve them all through
life. BSA has encouraged constructive
communication among
youth across the planet, especially
during World Jamboree
events.
I entered Scouting as a Cub
Scout in 1947, part of a pack in
Haverhill. All of my pack members
lived in what was then wideopen
countryside on the New
Hampshire border, a perfect
place to practice the skills I was
learning with fellow Cubs in my
den. At age 11, I transitioned
into BSA Troop 13 in Lone Tree
Council, a big step that meant
real hikes, mountain climbing
and overnight camping. Mr. Jim
Page was our Scoutmaster, an officer
who served in the U.S. Navy
during WWII in the Pacific theater
and one of the finest men I
have ever met.
In 1952, my dad, an Eagle
Scout himself, was transferred by
his employer and I ended up in
Natick where I joined Troop 1
led by Mr. Herb Adams, another
outstanding role model. Since
I had at that point achieved the
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rank of Star Scout, I was fortunate
to be considered for and
then elected Senior Patrol Leader
of Troop 1 soon after my arrival.
It sure did help me acclimate to
my new town and to form new
friendships.
Both Scoutmasters Page and
Adams represented some of the
best America had to offer at the
time. Both were men of faith,
veterans and upstanding citizens.
Although the selection process
for such a leadership position
was unknown to me at the time,
it really did function efficiently
in their cases. Not so anymore,
however, judging by the numbers
of child abuse claims being filed
against scout leaders. Now, the
Boy Scouts of America are about
to be deposited in history’s dust
bin, all because of a few bad actors
who somehow slipped in the
door unnoticed. We left the flock
unprotected.
Later in life when I served as
a risk management consultant
to the public sector, I worked
closely with the National League
of Cities and law enforcement
professional organizations, including
the International Chiefs
of Police and the Commission on
Accreditation for Law Enforcement
Agencies in Washington,
DC. We monitored incidents
that resulted in claims and litigation
filed against police departments
throughout the U.S.,
looking for those agencies with a
greater than expected frequency
of claims alleging excessive force
and other abuses.
Our country is presently embroiled
in a wave of litigation
stemming from alleged police
negligence. Today’s high speed
communication broadcasts these
incidents worldwide in a matter
of seconds, giving the impression
they are growing exponentially.
But these incidents were happening
a generation ago; they just
weren’t getting as much publicity.
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What was occurring then and is
evident now is that a disproportionate
number of claims and
lawsuits are popping up in certain
agencies and communities.
The two examples outlined
above demonstrate a failing, I believe,
in the screening, selection,
education and monitoring of individuals
serving in sensitive public
service roles. There are other
examples to be sure but these two
are under intense public scrutiny
at the moment. Dismantling the
Boy Scouts and “defunding” police
departments will not cure
the problem. If we merely jettison
or “defund” organizations
because they potentially expose
persons to abuse, we will soon
discover we have destroyed valuable
resources in the process. Let
the bath water sit for a moment
while we contemplate the depth
of the problem and its potential
solutions.
Best practices models with
which to cull applicants not suitable,
as well as questionable persons
currently in a position to
do harm, are essential to a cure.
Let’s do the hard work required
to craft permanent solutions that
will eliminate our current systems’
weaknesses.
Mr. Tooker is a Wrentham resident.
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